People from a young age are often made to fear snakes, lizards and other reptiles or amphibians.  This fear is commonly associated with tall-tales or misconceptions about the nature and/or behavior of these spectacular animals and most of these tales or misconceptions couldn't be further from the truth.  This same fear often-times results in the unfair persecution and slaughter of these magnificent creatures.  This bring to mind my favorite quote by Native American Chief Dan George...

"If you talk with the animals, they will talk with you and you will know each other.  If you do not talk with them, you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear.  What one fears...one DESTROYS". 

    This quote is a remarkably powerful statement and is absolutely true in every way.  It is time that as humans, we take a voice for our wild co-habitants and learn to appreciate them for what they are, even the ones that many of us do not understand.  When you have no understanding of these animals, it is difficult to appreciate their true beauty.  Another quote that is very popular and also very true by Senegalese Conservationist, Baba Dioum reads...

"In the end, we conserve only what we love.  We love only what we understand.  We only understand what we are taught". 

    With that being said, lets teach our young!  Let's show them the beauty of our wilds and the animals that inhabit them.  One of these days, these children will be making the choices that will affect the future of these animals in the wild.  They will be choosing how we should use our natural resources, how our land should be utilized and will be making important choices that will affect whether these animals have anything left to call "Home".  Let's give them an opportunity to make the right choices by giving them the knowledge and foresight to make educated decisions so that these animals will still be able to be around for future generations to enjoy and admire.

    Well, there are educational TV shows like the "Crocodile Hunter", why can't those be the source of education for our young?

Television educational shows are good things to have, however, they do not have near the educational impact that an up-close encounter with the animals will.  Children having an opportunity to view these animals in person can help change the way the future world will view wildlife and better the chances of survival for many species.

Very simply..."Education is the ULTIMATE key to conservation".